PhD Position in Drug Discovery for Chagas Disease at University of Bern University of Bern in Switzerland

PhD position in Drug Discovery for Chagas Disease at the University of Bern, Switzerland, in the research group of Jürg Gertsch at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (IBMM).

The project focuses on Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) and combines biochemistry, pharmacology, chemical biology, molecular biology, proteomics, and natural products research. The aim is to identify and validate novel drug targets and bioactive compounds, including work on mechanisms of action, CryoEM, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.

The position is embedded in a collaborative environment with access to state-of-the-art technologies in chemical biology, LC-MS/MS analytics, and molecular pharmacology. The lab’s broader research interests include molecular pharmacology and translational drug discovery.

Eligibility highlights: a Master’s degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, or a related field; strong experimental background; interest in drug discovery, parasitology, and translational research; ideally some exposure to medicinal chemistry or proteomics; excellent English.

Funding: fully funded 4-year PhD position supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), with a structured PhD program at GCB Bern.

Application: send a motivation letter, CV, and contact details of 2–3 referees to [email protected]. The position is available now and will be filled as soon as possible.